Bill-D

I have BC/BS and have for 5 years...my employer had an exclusion to gastric procedures so they did not pay for my surgery. Basically, the employer can choose to "exclude" certain health problems like Gastric, stop-smoking drugs, etc. the employer gets a cheaper rate! I would almost guarentee you will fall under the pre-existing condition clause and have to wait one full year if they do cover it. The best way to find out would be to call your HR Dept and simply ask...or get it done while you have insurance that covers it. Bill

Just realized that my post could scare some and I dont want that... My complications were caused by two previous abdominal surgeries...one for a colon surgery and then another for a hernia from that colon surgery. I had a lot of scar tissue from what the doctor told me...also because I'd had part of my colon removed everything was as he put it "strecthed out" from my colon being smaller and pulling the stomach down.... My results were not typical and I've never read anything even close here so dont let my experience worry you if your waiting to have yours done. Even if I knew what was gonna happen i would still do it again... I'm getting skinny and thats the whole deal... bill

Well I was banded on the 14th... I arrived at day surgery at 5:45am..IV by 6:50am...rolled to surgery at 8:40am...was in surgery for over 6 hrs...previous abdominal surgeries caused complications... Woke up to completely numb arms and hands...kinda scared me. Not to bad on pain...really was suprised about that. I too had trouble sleeping the first 3 nights as I've never slept on my back. Five days in and I can finally feel my arms and hands but still my thumbs feel like their asleep. Dr says its because of the position i was in for so long in surgery. No pain, only took 3 or 4 pain pills post op. Just a uncomfortable "twinge" at the port site when I lay down or get up out of bed. Haven't felt hungry and basically force myself to drink one shake a day. The positive side is that I lost 14.5 lbs during the two week diet before the surgery and have lost another 8.5 lbs since. I check my blood glucose 4 times a day and it hasn't been over 155 since the surgery. It usually was in the 300 range. So I'm pleased with this so far, and I was a self=pay...$16,000 bucks. Do want to say "sorry" to the guy who got cancelled because mine went so long...hate that you went through everything and then get sent home and rescheduled. Thanks to Dr. Cernero in Sherman, Tx. for working so hard... Weight first Dr. visit = 349 Day of surgery = 334.5 Today = 326

Lewser, Well he should be good and warmed up for one of us...lol:thumbup: Good luck to you to... Bill

Hello all, I made the decision to have the lap band about 3 weeks ago and will have it done next wednesday. My doctor is Dr. Aaron Cenero in Sherman, Texas. Because my employer has an exclusion to weight loss procedure it will be a self-pay...but this Dr is very nice and worked hard to help me make this happen. Even at a cost to him so he comes HIGHLY recommended so far!! I am 39 with a BMI of 44.0 :thumbup: My highest weight ever was 368, first Dr. visit 349, currently 342... Hope to lose 110-125 total... On liquids for 7 days now and already lost 7 lbs...7 more days to go till the surgery... I will keep everyone posted after the surgery...